A Comparison of Dietary Patterns and Factors Influencing Food Choice among Ethnic Groups Living in One Locality: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Globally, the number of minority ethnic groups in high-income countries is increasing. However, despite this demographic change, most national food consumption surveys are not representative of ethnically diverse populations. In consequence, many ethnic minorities’ dietary intakes are underreported, meaning that accurate analysis of food intake and nutrient status among these groups is not possible. This systematic review aims to address these gaps and understand differences in dietary intakes and influencers of dietary habits of ethnic groups worldwide. A systematic search was conducted through three databases (Pubmed, Web of Science and Scopus) and manual searches, generating n = 56,647 results. A final search of these databases was completed on 13 September 2021, resulting in a total of 49 studies being included in this review. Overall, food group intakes—particularly fruit, vegetable and fish intake—and diet quality scores were seen to differ between ethnicities. Overall Black/African American groups were reported to be among the poorest consumers of fruit and vegetables, whilst Asian groups achieved high diet quality scores due to higher fish intakes and lower fat intakes compared to other groups. Limited data investigated how nutrient intakes, dietary and meal patterns compared between groups, meaning that not all aspects of dietary intake could be compared. Socioeconomic status and food availability appeared to be associated with food choice of ethnic groups, however, confounding factors should be considered more closely. Future work should focus on comparing nutrient intakes and meal patterns between ethnicities and investigate potential targeted interventions which may support adherence to food-based dietary guidelines by all ethnic groups.

A Cross-sectional Analysis of Food Perceptions, Food Preferences, Diet Quality, and Health in a Food Desert Campus

“…In our study, participants who identified as Hispanics had higher liking ratings for selected fruits, vegetables, and nuts, as well as higher HEI total fruits and sodium scores than those who identified as non-Hispanics. This is supported by a recent systematic review that demonstrates that Hispanics have higher fruit intakes than non-Hispanic Whites (61). Analysis of 24-hour recalls from a cohort of the Hispanic Community Health Study reports that the sodium intake among Hispanics is much higher than recommended intake (62).…”

Epidemiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in a Cohort of US Black Women

“…For example, some epidemiologic studies of IBD have noted that diet has an impact on the incidence of IBD, and specifically diets high in trans-unsaturated fat, red meat and low in fiber may increase the risk of developing IBD 10,11,21 . Data also suggest that dietary consumption patterns differ according to race and ethnicity and may therefore contribute to rise in IBD incidence among US Black individuals 22,23 .…”

Sociocultural influences on dietary behavior and meal timing among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women at risk of endometrial cancer: a qualitative investigation

“…For instance, a lower level of acculturation has been associated with a healthier eating pattern among Latinx immigrants [ 73 ]. Moreover, socio-economic status, education, and income are universal determinants of food choices, including caloric density, across cultural groups in the U.S. and elsewhere [ 74 ]. Food waste has also been documented as being considered “bad” amongst other immigrant groups [ 75 ].…”